Weird Week in Football: Diego's throne, booted beers and poppies in poor taste
Every Tuesday, theScore highlights the most outlandish moments from the wacky, sometimes daft, and perennially entertaining world of football. Here's what made us smile - or cringe - on the pitch this past week.
Down in front with Diego
Diego Maradona had just a cup of tea - presumably among other things - with Newell's Old Boys in 1993 following a Serie A drug suspension. That didn't stop the club from gifting the Argentinian deity a comfy touchline throne when the current Gimnasia boss was in town last Tuesday. Wow, he looks great!
#TNTSports | La inconfundible firma de Maradona en el sillón que le dio Newell's.#Newells 🆚 #Gimnasia pic.twitter.com/qMUgUJeWOZ
— TNT Sports LA (@TNTSportsLA) October 29, 2019
Drake dupes Defoe
Jermain Defoe's shock move to Toronto FC in 2014 proved to be more of a Bloody Big Bust than a Bloody Big Deal. Apparently, Defoe wasn't the only one who failed to meet expectations. Drake, if you're reading this, it's too late.
Great @IAmJermainDefoe @Drake story on #BOTN tonight pic.twitter.com/iY4brgbdCh
— Peter Crouch (@petercrouch) October 29, 2019
Touchdown: Nouhou nails the pint after
Los Angeles FC supporters in attendance for Tuesday's Western Conference final in the City of Angels were brewing when the Seattle Sounders came from behind to bounce the record-setters 3-1.
As beers rained from above like pigeon poo plopping in Ashley Young's yap, plucky Sounders defender Nouhou Tolo put his boot through a can of Dos Equis. Stay classy, LAFC fans.
USA Today Sports (Kelvin Kuo) got an image of Nouhou kicking the beer can. Incredible. https://t.co/Fliwu3KSkO pic.twitter.com/iobsEiTfsK
— Ben Baer (@BenBaer89) October 30, 2019
Honda back on the market, again
Japanese legend Keisuke Honda has made the Weird Week for the third time. First, he asked Manchester United for a job on Twitter. Then, he coached Cambodia to a 14-0 defeat against Iran.
Now, the forward is off to Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for first-team training, all the while taking to Twitter to remind former side AC Milan that he'd be chuffed to return to the San Siro. Honda for sale. Lots of mileage. No title.
Thanks. Call me when you need me. Please don't forget about it.
— KeisukeHonda(本田圭佑) (@kskgroup2017) October 30, 2019
Ivanovic tips Zenit's pitches
Set-piece savant Branislav Ivanovic shared his tactical savvy with Zenit St. Petersburg teammate/Bond villain Yuri Zhirkov. The problem was that the Serbia international also shared it with the rest of those in attendance.
When you realise you've just told the whole stadium your team's tactics 🤦🏻♂️pic.twitter.com/epNn4UL8h9
— FC Zenit in English🌊 (@fczenit_en) October 31, 2019
Fenerbahce's Nutcracker Prince
Wouldn't be a Weird Week in Football without an example of confounding work from 'keepers. Somehow, Fenerbahce's Atlay Bayindir escaped punishment for giving his opponent from Kayserispor the Frank Dux dong treatment.
Bu pozisyon Türkiye de HAKEMLİĞİ anlatmaya yeter de artar. FENERASYON her maç böyle pozisyonlara göz yumuyor. ÇOK YAZIK. Dünya geneli bu maçı izleyen bile diyor ki BU LİG TEMİZ OLAMAZ ! pic.twitter.com/xlIrypA2dQ
— Gökhan İPEK (@dr_gpi) November 4, 2019
Yaya kicks-off retirement with boot in the ass
Yaya Toure's football swan song lasted all of 10 seconds after the 36-year-old Qingdao Huanghai midfielder saw red for intentionally booting an opponent from Nantong Zhiyun in the caboose, which can be seen below in sparkling 4K.
In the last match of the season, Yaya Toure was sent off just 10 seconds into the game due to a retaliatory kick. Qingdao Huanghai, having secured promotion, were beaten by Nantong Zhiyun in front of home fans. It might be the last moment of the 36-year-old midfielder in China. pic.twitter.com/CU2SSF2bBz
— Titan Sports Plus (@titan_plus) November 2, 2019
Acrobatic Alberto goes ass over tea kettle
On the topic of former Premier League players you've likely forgotten about, ex-Liverpool catastrophe is doing his thing for Villarreal. Textbook clearance.
Alberto Moreno is settling in nicely at Villarreal... pic.twitter.com/6pjnY7ualt
— Caoimhe O'Neill (@CaoimheSport) November 3, 2019
Spoiler alert in the seventh tier
If you're not caught up on the latest season of "The Great British Bake Off", tough luck. David pipped Alice and Steph to the line despite not capturing the Star Baker nod. - Colin from Whitby Town FC.
90’ Huge disdain inside the ground as Colin announces the Great British Bake Off winner over the tannoy. Shocking behaviour.
— Whitby Town FC (@WhitbyTownFC) October 29, 2019
Poppies in poor taste?
English football commemorated Remembrance Weekend with poppies on shirts and pre-match moments of silence, but Arsenal took the cake with a curious dessert choice during Saturday's draw with Wolves.
Poppies respectfully removed from the top of the cake at Arsenal pic.twitter.com/Jk13fFcL1r
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) November 2, 2019
Where's the lie?
While the press dined on the memories of heroes past, Wolves fans took a bite out of Arsenal's home support in the wake of Granit Xhaka's spirited cries of "F--- Off!" upon his controversial exit a week ago versus Palace.
Wolves supporters: "Xhaka's right, your fans are s***e."
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) November 2, 2019
Death to VAR
Just like Nordin Amrabat declared at the 2018 World Cup, "VAR is Bulls--t." We are all Monaco's Ruben Aguilar.
AS Monaco right-back Ruben Aguilar filmed kicking the VAR monitor after being sent off in last night’s match vs St Étienne. pic.twitter.com/84u2Z37z4t
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 4, 2019